Michigan
Judge to hear arguments as Michigan activists attempt to keep Trump off the ballot
A judge in Michigan is expected to hear arguments Thursday on whether Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has the authority to keep Donald Trump’s name off state ballots for president.
Activists are suing Benson in the Michigan Court of Claims to force her to keep Trump’s name off ballots and to assess Trump’s constitutional qualifications to serve a second term as president.
Meanwhile, attorneys for the former president are demanding that Trump’s name be allowed on the 2024 Republican presidential primary ballot.
Arguments were scheduled to begin Thursday morning in Grand Rapids before Judge James Robert Redford.
Activists — in two separate suits — point to a section of the U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment that prohibits a person from running for federal office if they have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the U.S. or given aid or comfort to those who have.
Liberal groups also have filed lawsuits in Colorado and Minnesota to bar Trump from the ballot, portraying him as the inciter of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, which was intended to stop Congress from certifying Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential election win.
The groups cite a rarely used constitutional prohibition against holding office for those who swore an oath to uphold the Constitution but then “engaged in insurrection” against it. The two-sentence clause in the 14th Amendment has been used only a handful of times since the years after the Civil War.
But the Minnesota Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit citing the provision. The court’s ruling said its decision applied only to the state’s primary.
Free Speech For People, a group representing petitioners before the Minnesota Supreme Court, also represents petitioners in one of the Michigan cases against Benson.
Trump is considered the leading candidate for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.
Benson already has said in a filing that Michigan’s Legislature does not give her the authority to determine whether a candidate for president may be disqualified for the state ballot under the 14th Amendment or to assess a candidate’s constitutional qualifications to serve as president.
It’s a “federal constitutional question of enormous consequence” whether Trump cannot appear as a presidential candidate on state ballots, Benson wrote. “Michigan courts have held that administrative agencies generally do not have the power to determine constitutional questions.”
However, she added that she will follow the direction of the court either way.
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MARQUETTE, Mich. (WLUC) – The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) is celebrating the tenth anniversary of its placemaking grant.
The Public Spaces, Community Places Grant was used to fund projects like the Marquette Skate Plaza.
Skate Plaza Committee Member Nheena Weyer Ittner said this was one of the first projects that used the program’s funding.
“It was a learning experience for them, huge learning experience for the skate plaza,” Ittner said. “We ended up being successful after a hectic, scary, exhilarating month-long campaign.”
MEDC Senior Community Development Manager Lindsey Clark explained the grant uses crowdfunding to generate public attention and interest in placemaking projects.
“We really focus on gathering that support from the community through crowdfunding for the projects,” Clark said. “Then the MEDC is able to come in and help match that local support to bring the projects to life.”
The grant used to match crowdfunding up to $50,000. Over the years, Clark explained the grant’s cap has been raised to $75,000 to incentivize inclusive projects.
“If your project incorporates that ADA and universal design to the project,” Clark said. “We are really trying to focus on bringing projects that are available for all types of folks to enjoy in the community.”
The Marquette Skate Plaza was crowdfunded with $10,000 and then was matched by the MEDC.
Ittner said grants like this encourage involvement from the community.
“When you have that matching fund kind of dangled in front of you, it just makes people more willing to give,” Ittner said. “Because they know that if we get to a particular goal the MEDC will make their dollar double.”
Marquette is one of the last stops for the MEDC’s Public Spaces, Community Places Grant Tour. Representatives will be heading downstate on Saturday.
Copyright 2024 WLUC. All rights reserved.
Morning 4 is a quick roundup of stories we think you should know about to start your day. So, let’s get to the news.
Body pulled from SE Michigan lake belongs to missing Genesee County man
The body of a missing Genesee County man was found Thursday in a private lake at the edge of Livingston County.
See the story here.
Popular chicken restaurant opens new location in Macomb County
A popular chicken restaurant chain has opened its newest location in Macomb County.
Read more here.
Twin girls hurt after lighting powerful firework in bathroom of Metro Detroit home
Twin 11-year-old girls were injured Thursday after they brought a powerful firework into a bathroom in their River Rouge home and lit it.
See more here.
Biden’s debate performance spurs Democratic panic about his ability to lead party against Trump
Above all, Joe Biden’s allies wanted him to demonstrate strength and energy on the debate stage to help put to rest questions about the 81-year-old Democrat’s physical and mental acuity.
But on the biggest stage in U.S. politics on Thursday night, Biden did not meet their modest expectations.
Read the report here.
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Copyright 2023 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit – All rights reserved.
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